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Committee recommends favorable action on small county morgue after officials cite storage needs and costs
Summary
Courthouse & Property committee voted to recommend the commission approve a modest county morgue facility after officials said current arrangements are inadequate; staff estimated the project at roughly $260,000 with contingency and emphasized the plan is "no frills."
The Courthouse & Property committee voted to recommend that the full commission approve construction of a small county morgue after hearing from Captain Bridal Bruce and staff that current facilities are inadequate for temporary body storage and handling.
Captain Bridal Bruce told the committee that since assuming responsibility for morgue transports on Oct. 1 the county had moved 26 bodies to the current morgue holding area and that about 15.38% of those cases were suspected overdoses. He said county rules require bodies in pre-hospital settings to be housed at an after-death facility or similar location until families decide on disposition or autopsies are complete. Bruce presented a compact design that he described as "no frills," with a body storage area, a bathroom for decontamination, and a small clerical/identification room for families and staff.
Finance staff reported the project cost estimate moved in committee to approximately $260,000 (including a contingency added by the finance committee). Committee members acknowledged the need for a safe, sanitary space for bodies awaiting transport and voted to forward a favorable recommendation to the full commission.
Committee members asked for final, firm cost estimates and noted the price could change with tariffs or supply fluctuations; finance indicated the current figure includes a contingency and is expected to be close to actual construction costs. The committee recommended the project for commission consideration; the commission will consider final approval and funding in a subsequent meeting.
